Wally Bell interprets the canoe tree

Maps: Canberra and Bungendore 1:25000

Walk Description

This walk was organised by the Molonglo Catchment Group:

Saturday 30 November: Connected Environments and Changing Landscapes of the ACT and Surrounding Region – Interacting with the Ngunawal Perspective. Walk and talk with Wally Bell and Tyronne Bell - members of the Buru and Thunderstone Ngunawal Aboriginal Corporations, Dr Fiona Dyer – Freshwater Scientist, Dr Karen Williams – Author, Independent Scholar and Artist – landscape interpretation.

Around 30 of us met at the Oaks Estate Community Hall.

Further Information

See here for the event flyer.

Tyronne Bell's Thunderstone Aboriginal Cultural & Land Management Services web site is at www.thunderstone.net.au.

Photographs

Click here to access all walk photographs.

Track Map

Track map not published for this walk.

Google Earth

Google Earth not published for this walk.

Track Notes

I haven't been so privileged, overawed and out of my depth since 21 Nov 13 (when I was invited to a pre-public viewing of the NLA's Mapping our World exhibition, as a Canberra social media correspondent). There was a section on today's evaluation sheet where you could identify yourself as a professional, knowledgeable amateur or dunderhead (not the word from the sheet) - I chose the latter. Even the lady helping with the admin had just finished her PhD! But so good to know that such folk are passionate about the environment, landscape and indigenous culture. I caught up with some old friends and hopefully established some new contacts.

We met at the Oaks Estate Community Hall and received a briefing from Dr Karen and did a round the circle introduction.

See the handout sheet here.

We then drove out along the Oaks Estate Road and parked beside the road. Our guides - Karen, Wally, Tyronne and Fiona - took us around a very short walk in the paddocks. But what a productive area.

We first visited a red box tree which had several climbing foothold scars in it. An interesting aside - the grazier had left African Boxthorn bushes around the trees to protect them from cattle rubbing. For others in the group, this is an exotic weed; for yet others concerned with fire protection, they would remove all shrubs from under trees. Tyronne and Wally interpreted for us.

Further on in another paddock we were wandering along and Tyronne scuffed the surface and unearthed a stone artifact and also a glass flake. He interpreted that aboriginals used European materials when available, as they were easier to work. The purple colour of the glass maybe dated it early 20th century. Amazing to so quickly find such things - then again, the Bell brothers have an eye for it (maybe like border marker hunting (grin)). I suppose it's like wandering around England or Europe and unearthing stuff.

Next onto another scar tree.

From a nearby rise, Karen interpreted the landscape both close down to Oaks Estate and Queanbeyan and distant, pointing out the traditional travelling routes.

Lastly Wally took us to another scar tree - one which had possibly yielded a small canoe.

We then drove to the Molonglo Gorge picnic area and enjoyed arvo tea, continued discussion and saw a great display of artifacts. Lovely children's books of aboriginal tales too - perfect for my US grand daughter. See www.thunderstone.net.au to purchase.

See a Gnunawal poster here.

The walk then continued up the Molonglo Gorge. I got as far as the first stop where Fiona spoke about the water, then had to head for home as Gay had overdone it.

An absolutely huge opportunity to mix with the experts. Thanks so much!

I made contact with Tyronne, with the view to him putting on a bush tucker walk for me and some mates at some stage. His web site is at www.thunderstone.net.au.

Summary

Distance: 3.1km Climb: 20m. Time: 1.40 - 5.00pm, with heaps of interpreting talks and a great arvo tea.

Grading: S/E; E(4)

Walk Participants

About 30 of us.